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Plot
A group of college-age buddies struggle with their imminent passage into adulthood in 1959 Baltimore.

Release Year: 1982

Rating: 7.1/10 (9,296 voted)

Critic's Score: 86/100

Director:
Barry Levinson

Stars: Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon

Storyline 5 guys in their 20's spend most of their time hanging out in a Diner. It's Christmas time in 1959, and the guys all begin to think it's about time they went about their lives without the comfort of the 'diner'.

Trivia:
All of the scenes in the diner were filmed last after the cast got to know each other. The dialog in those scenes is a combination of scripted and improvisational.

Goofs:
Anachronisms:
When Boogie is driving in the country, the road has two yellow stripes on it and when there are "passing" stripes, they are yellow and not white, as they would have been in that period of time.

Quotes:Eddie:
You... You... You make me sick. You've just gone down two steps in my... my book!

User Review

Adolescence Goes Out with a Bang!!!

Rating: 10/10

Seldom does a film capture fond memories with a lovable ADULT!!
immaturity...You will never find a more sensational cast, Steve
Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Paul Reiser, Tim Daly, Daniel
Stern, Ellen Barkin, and Micheal Tucker!!!....This film has an astute
portrayal of meaningless conversation being the key focal point for
everyone and everything...The platonic bond in this film leaves room
for immeasurable tolerance particularly on account of dedicated human
affection and evokes an epitome of the pleasant camaraderie pertinent
to the 1950's.. Friends are not friends by just saying nice things to
each other, rather because they have shared their adolescent lives with
one another, and the realization of adulthood sparks an indispensable
fondness all of the major characters in the film mutually share!! At a
glance, someone may perceive this film to be a movie version of "Happy
Days"...but the intense and poignant performances of all the characters
in the film (particularly Steve Guttenberg's) makes anyone who sees
this movie wonder if maybe it would have been nice to live in Baltimore
in 1959!!!

Usually, there is a pejorative interpretation of the term "IMMATURE",
but in this film, it establishes a social cohesiveness that reflects
the enviable naivety of the times!!!...Everybody recognizes everyone
else's preventable flaws...The proverbial friendship safety net which
perennially prevails throughout this entire film, makes them feel very
fortunate because they know that their lives are not perfect!!!..Their
precociousness resonates itself to a bittersweet comedy, and is
advocated as such, since comedy is limitless, because so too is human
error...Evaluating the actors in the movie, it is simply incredible!!
Steve Guttenberg is Police Academy King!! Tim Daley in the hit show
"Wings" He seemed to understand that role perfectly!! Kevin Bacon, the
eighties icon including "Footloose" Daniel Stern, the director and
voice in "Wonder Years" Mickey Rourke "9 1/2 Weeks" Every male between
the ages of 42 and 50 is insanely jealous!! Ellen Barkin "The Big Easy"
and a host of others!! and of course, Paul Reiser "Mad About
You"...Acting talent of this copious quantity exudes a plethora of non
disputable top notch Hollywood entertainment!! All of the actors in
this film established a compilation of feelings that were genuine, for
better or for worse (pun intended!!).. Memories were safeguarded to
make the recognizable distinction between friends and acquaintances!!
Life was irksome at times, but they always sought respite!! The
boys/men knew they could attain refuge and solace at the Diner!! Be it
from eating French Fries with gravy, expounding about first
experiences, bickering over nothing whatsoever, and most significantly,
thoroughly and completely understanding each other!!! No matter what
happens they will always have the Diner!!

How many films put a realistically humorous spin on adversity!! How
many films provide a humanistic heartfelt laughter about everything!!
More importantly!! What films make you realize truly that people make
all the difference in your life!! Diner was indeed such a film!! All of
the actors in this movie have had tremendous careers, and this movie is
testimony as to why!! When evaluating your life, you realize how trite
imperfections are the only valid means of appreciating your precarious
endeavors, and your concise perception of what adolescence
transitioning into adulthood truly signifies!! It is a wonderful
experience when a film far exceeds your expectations and puts an acute
awareness on what matters in your life!! With the Rolls Royce of
directors/writers Barry Levinson, (Natural, Rain Man & Good Morning
Vietnam, to name but a few!!) and an absolutely fabulous cast, (if a
director ever wants a young cast with a cop esthetically emerging
potential like this one ever again, he will have to get it from the guy
with the red horns!!!) this film is one of the finest!!!! Top 20 in my
book and top 30 for comedies according to the critics of AFI!!!!